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In a video interview at linux.conf.au in Melbourne last week, founder and co-ordinator of the Linux kernel Linus Torvalds admitted that he is concerned about software patents because he — and users like him — don't have any control over them.
"One thing that has been worrisome over the last few years are … stupid external issues — especially patents and stuff like that. Those are the things that worry technical people. Probably because they feel like they — including me — can't necessarily do a lot about them... When you don't feel in control you start worrying," said Torvalds.
Another issue which bothers the Linux creator, albeit one he does have some control over, is better support for SSDs in Linux. SSD drives use solid-state memory and have no moving parts, which makes them faster and more reliable than traditional hard drives.
"Personally, it is SSDs. Just because that is the one thing I hate about having my laptop with me, I have a really slow disk and I am hoping that will change and it probably will change but we will have to do it inside the kernel," he said.
US analyst firm J Gold Associates last year predicted that SSD drives will account for 15 percent of the notebook market by 2011. Earlier this year, Apple launched an SSD drive option in its MacBook Air, which was announced at the Macworld show in San Francisco.
